Oweda Vonne (Parks) Johnsen Oweda was born February 28, 1928 in North Platte, Nebraska. She was the daughter of LeRoy Parks and Augusta (Swisher) Parks. Augusta died in a kerosene explosion and resulting house fire in 1939. Oweda married Melvin B. Johnsen in 1955. Melvin died October 1986. They had no children. She was preceded in death by both her parents, her brother John William Parks, and sister Zoe W. Shipton. She is survived by two nephews, Robert Keith Shipton and Roger L. Shipton, and one niece Sharon Kay (Shipton) O'Connor, sister-in-law Gladys Parks, and Gladys' two children Ann (Newman) Parks and John W. Parks. Melvin was survived by two nephews, Larry Johnsen and Richard Johnsen, and one niece, Marjorie Johnsen. Oweda graduated from high school in Lander, Wyoming and then went on to receive her BS degree in accounting at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Oweda and Melvin were married July 8, 1955 and began their life together on a farm near Pavillion, Wyoming raising alfalfa seed and hay. They sold that farm and moved to Kennewick, WA in about 1960 where they owned and operated an 80-acre asparagus farm which they later transitioned to an orchard raising apples, nectarines and cherries. The orchard was on the west side of present-day 19th Ave. and Hwy 395. Today her former orchard is a subdivision known as Cherry Blossom Meadows. After Melvin died in 1986, Oweda continued to run the orchard for several years on her own. She eventually sold the orchard and built a new home in the Canyon Lakes subdivision near the golf course. She lived there until December, 2015, when she had a heart attack and had to move to the Brookdale Assisted Living Center. When her health deteriorated in 2018, she was moved to the Regency Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Kennewick, where she died on July 18, 2021. Oweda enjoyed canning and making jellies and jams from the local produce. She was an excellent cook. Oweda was active in Redeemer Lutheran Church, Richland where she sang in the choir, served on the Evangelism Committee and Vacation Bible School Cabinet, chaired the Memorials Committee, and provided and delivered food to those in need. Pastor Laurence Meyer and his wife Ona were especially close to Oweda, spending time with her, vacationing together, and living close by. Oweda was a much-loved wife, sister, aunt and friend. Her generosity and acts of kindness revealed her benevolent heart. She will be remembered with great love and warm memories by all who knew her. Memorials can be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church at 520 Thayer Drive, Richland, WA 99352